Bowling Duo Hitting the Heights for RH Corstorphine

Much of the recent talk in the Baillie Gifford ESCA Championship may have been about SMRH’s unbeaten run, but two bowlers from RH Corstorphine have grabbed a few headlines themselves.

After last weekend’s thumping win over bottom side Holy Cross, captain Joe Kinghorn-Gray has 24 league scalps for 2016 and Freddie Young has 21.

Against Holy Cross, Kinghorn-Gray took the amazing figures of 6-5 including four wickets in four balls while spinner Young took 2-9.

The result left the Edinburgh outfit fourth in the table and still with a chance of mounting a title bid over the last seven weeks of the campaign.

Kinghorn-Gray, now 22, has been with the club since under-15 level and he made his first team debut when he was 16.

After relegation from the CSL Eastern Premiership last year he was made skipper of the side – a role that he is relishing.

“I love playing my cricket here and having come through the ranks as a youngster it was a real honour to be asked to be captain of the team,” he said.

“We did not have the best of years in 2015, but it was a good experience for the young players to test themselves against the best players in the east and I think we all learnt a lot from it.

“We also learnt a lot from our overseas player Daniel Payne and it was great that he decided to stay with us for this summer.

“He has already scored over 350 runs in the league while he helps the other players around him and is great at giving me tips when we are out on the pitch as others do.

“As for my bowling, well I am pleased with how things are going personally, but as long as the team ends a Saturday with a win under their belts then I am happy.

“The whole club is a good place to be around at the minute. We have three senior XIs and the junior section is getting stronger again after a lull and as a youth coach that is particularly pleasing for me to see.”

Kinghorn-Gray has been very impressed by the form of 19-year-old University of Edinburgh student Young.

Young, the left armer, said: “I played most of my cricket down south, including for my local club Sevenoaks Vine, until I moved to Edinburgh to study.

“A number of my Uniiversity off Edinburgh team mates were involved at RH Corstorphine so last year I played a few matches for the third XI.

“This summer I am around in Edinburgh for a lot longer and so consistent training over the winter and some good early season games with the university team, including a mini tour to Torquay, have meant that I was able to gain a first team place.

“I have enjoyed the challenge of the Championship and it has been good to take a few wickets, but now we have to get on a good run and try and put pressure on the teams that are above us in the table.”